|
|
 |
 |
|
Ellen Burchenal — Corsair
Contained chaos
Ellen Burchenal's Corsair appears to be both highly
organized and chaotic at the same time. Our eyes bounce from the
drawing of the actual corsair (the torso of a suit of armor), the
ghostly sketch behind it, and the polka-dotted background, searching
for visual connections. The differences among these layers create a
compelling structural tension that draws us into the work.
Exploring the possibilities
Corsair is a good example of how a talented artist can improvise a
balanced, dynamic interplay among visual elements. In this work, a
hazy preliminary sketch became the launching pad for an experiment
with depth (the illusion of space created by contrasting foreground
with background). This loose, smoky drawing seems to recede into the
background — but imagine if it were boldly drawn instead. The
corsair that floats comfortably on the surface would compete with a
bold background sketch — resulting in true chaos. Burchenal's
obvious command of acrylic, pastel and ink has given her the freedom
and confidence to trust her instincts, and explore the possibilities
in an preliminary drawing.
Optical effects
Intriguing effects can be found when an artist is both confident with
technique and willing to experiment. Look carefully at the orange
ellipses; Burchenal created them by painting a semi-transparent white
mask over the original orange background. This produces an optical
illusion; depending on how you focus, you may see either the white
mask or the ellipses as the ground. This optical field becomes the
background for the smoky preliminary sketch and the crisp drawing of
the corsair, which seems to hover over the other imagery. But notice
the appendages that extend from the corsair; are they trailing off
into the background, or are they springs that are propelling the
corsair toward us? Through these optical effects, Burchenal creates
a sense of dynamism that involves and intrigues her viewers.
Next: Line
|
|
